Double-shoot knife attachment

ABSTRACT

A disc-opener implement for use with an agricultural implement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of a field and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The disc-opener implement also includes a knife that is configured to form a furrow next to or into a sidewall of the trench, wherein the knife comprises a leading edge, and a portion of the leading edge is aligned with a trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis of the disc-opener implement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/091,445 filed on Apr. 5, 2016, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to agricultural implements, and morespecifically to double-shoot disc openers for placement of seeds and/orfertilizer in the soil.

Certain agricultural implements may include disc-opener implements thatare configured to generate trenches for seed or fertilizer placement asthe agricultural implement is towed through a field. Disc-openerimplements may include chutes to deliver seeds and/or fertilizersimmediately after trenches are opened, in a single pass. In someapplications, the disc-opener implement may include a packing wheel topack the soil following the placement of the products.

In some applications, separation between seed and fertilizer may bedesired. This is usually the case when the direct contact between seedand fertilizer may reduce the yield of a crop. In such situations, thedisc-opener implement may include a disc to generate a trench and a toolto open a furrow separated from the trench. A first chute (e.g., a seedor fertilizer tube) may deposit a product in the trench, and a secondchute may deposit a product in the furrow. The construction of thedisc-opener implement may affect the trench and furrow formation, whichcan impact overall yield. Accordingly, it would be desirable to improveconstruction of the disc-opener implement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, a disc-opener implement for use with an agriculturalimplement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of afield and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The disc-opener implement alsoincludes a knife that is configured to form a furrow next to or into asidewall of the trench, wherein the knife comprises a leading edge, anda portion of the leading edge is aligned with a trailing edge of thescraper along a lateral axis of the disc-opener implement.

In one embodiment, a disc-opener implement for use with an agriculturalimplement includes a disc configured to form a trench in a surface of afield and a scraper adjacent to the disc. The scraper is configured todeflect soil away from the disc and includes a trailing edge. Thedisc-opener implement also includes a knife configured to form a furrownext to or into a sidewall of the trench, and the knife includes anoverlapping lip structure formed in a leading edge of the knife, whereinthe overlapping lip structure overlaps the scraper along an axial axisof the disc-opener implement and is configured to block lateral movementof the scraper.

In one embodiment, an agricultural system includes a structural frame, aplurality of double-shoot disc-opener implements, each including a discconfigured to open a trench. Each disc-opener implement also includes ascraper positioned adjacent to the disc and comprising a trailing edgeand a knife configured to open a furrow adjacent to the trench. Theknife includes a leading edge having a generally vertically extendingportion that overlaps the trailing edge of the scraper along a lateralaxis of the disc-opener implement.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural implement configured totow multiple disc-opener implements having a knife, in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a disc-opener implement with a knife,in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the disc-opener implement of FIG. 2A, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a scraper and a knife that may be usedin a disc-opener implement, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a front view of the scraper and the knife of FIG. 3A, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3C is a side view of the scraper and the knife of FIG. 3A, inaccordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional front view of the scraper and the knifetaken in line 3D-3D of FIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a frame and a spacer structure thatprovides an alignment between a scraper and a knife of a disc-openerimplement, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the frame and the spacer structure of FIG. 4A,in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a knife having carbide sections placedin a cutting edge, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the knife of FIG. 5A, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a knife with an overlapping lip thatprovides an alignment between a scraper and the knife, in accordancewith an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a top view of the knife of FIG. 6A, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 6C is a side view of a the knife of FIG. 6A, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 6D is a front view of the knife of FIG. 6A, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of a knife with an overlapping lip thatprovides an alignment between a scraper and the knife, in accordancewith an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a trench that may be formed in asurface of a field by a disc-opener implement, in accordance with anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present application is generally directed to a disc-opener implementcapable of forming cavities, such as trenches and furrows, in a surfaceof a field. The implement may include a disc configured to open aprimary trench and a scraper that redirects the displaced soil away fromthe disc-opener implement. The disc-opener implement may also include aknife configured to form a second furrow separated from the primarytrench. In some embodiments, the disc-opener implement may include aproduct chute configured to place products in the formed cavities.

The disposition of the knife may block undesired accumulation of soilredirected by the scraper in certain regions of the disc-openerimplement. For example, an alignment between a leading edge of the knifeand a trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis of thedisc-opener implement may block the accumulation of soil between thescraper and the knife. In some implementations, the alignment may bemaintained via a mechanical structure, such as a spacer. In otherimplementations, the alignment may be maintained by a mechanicalstructure that provides direct contact between the knife and thescraper, such as an overlapping lip formed in the leading edge of theknife. In some implementations, the knife may be provided witherosion-resistant sections (e.g., carbide sections, strips, or coating).The present application also generally relates to an agricultural systemthat employs multiple disc-opener implements configured to open multiplecolumns of trenches and furrows, simultaneously. The agricultural systemmay include disc-opener implements including a disc-opener, a scraper,and a knife.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a towableagricultural implement 10, including multiple disc-opener implements 12.As discussed in detail below, each disc-opener implement 12 includes adisc (e.g., coulter) configured to form a first trench in the soil, anda knife configured to form a second trench within the first trench. Aproduct delivery assembly positioned behind the disc is configured toinject one or more products (e.g., seed, fertilizer, etc) into thetrenches. As illustrated, linkage assemblies 14 secure the disc openerimplements 12 to a tool bar 15. In the present embodiment, each tool bar15 includes 36 disc-opener implements 12. Further embodiments mayinclude more or fewer disc-opener implements 12. For example, certainembodiments may include 30, 36, 40, 48, 60, 64, 72, 80, 96, or moredisc-opener implements 12 per tool bar 15. The tool bars 15 are coupledto a tow bar 18, including a hitch 21. The hitch 21 may, in turn, becoupled to a tractor or air cart such that the towable agriculturalimplement 10 may be pulled through a field in a direction of travel 16.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show an example of a disc-opener implement 100 in aperspective and a side view, respectively. The disc-opener implement 100may be described with reference to an axial axis or direction, 20, alateral axis 22 or direction, and a vertical axis 24 or direction. Aframe 112 of the disc-opener implement 100 is attached to a towingsystem through linkages 102 and 106 and a shock absorber 104 (e.g.,biasing member). The disc-opener implement 100 may be provided with awheel 108 and a disc-opener 110. As the disc-opener implement 100 isdragged in the direction of travel 16, the disc-opener 110 may produce atrench in the soil. A depth regulator handle 126 may be employed toadjust the depth of the disc-opener 110 relative to the wheel 108, whichmay determine the depth of the opened trench. A product (e.g.,fertilizer) may be placed in the trench opened by the disc-opener 110via a primary chute 124.

The soil displaced by the disc-opener implement 100 may be redirected bya scraper 114, which is attached to the frame 112 with a mount 116(e.g., support structure) via fasteners 119 (e.g., bolts), in theillustrated embodiment. A residue blocker 117 may block the soil anddebris displaced by the implement. As shown, the disc-opener implement100 includes a knife 118 (e.g., knife attachment), which is configuredto produce a second trench (e.g., furrow) in the soil, and which may beremovably coupled to the frame 112 with an adaptor 120 (e.g., mount orsupport structure) and/or a spacer 132 (e.g., mount or supportstructure). The disc-opener implement 100 may have a secondary chute 121that places a product (e.g., seed) in the furrow opened by the knife 118through an outlet 122. To pack the soil after the placement ofproduct(s) in the opened trench, a packing wheel 130 may be connected toframe 112 using link 128.

As noted above, the scraper 114 is configured to redirect the flow ofsoil away from the disc-opener 110. Due to the configuration of thedisc-opener implement 100, the scraper 114 may direct the soil towardthe knife 118. FIGS. 3A-D illustrate a relative disposition between thescraper 114 and the knife 118. Referring particularly to FIG. 3B, as thedisc-opener implement 100 is dragged, soil may be directed toward afirst side 134 (e.g., first lateral side or right side) of the scraper114. However, in some situations, the soil may be directed toward asecond side 136 (e.g., second lateral side or left side of the scraper114.

To block accumulation of soil in parts of the disc-opener implement 100,which may lead to plugging or other undesired effects, care with therelative disposition between the scraper 114 and the knife 118 may bebeneficial. In particular, alignment between the knife 118 and thescraper 114 may block accumulation of soil between the scraper 114 andthe knife 118. In some implementations, the knife 118 may be very closeto contacting the scraper 114 (e.g., separated by less than or byapproximately 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 centimeters alongthe axial axis 20, or between approximately 0.1-3, 0.1-2, or 0.1-1 cmalong the axial axis 20), as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-D.

In certain embodiments, the knife 118 and the scraper 114 overlap alongthe lateral axis 22. As shown in FIG. 3C, the knife 118 includes aleading edge 198. The leading edge 198 includes a first curve 200 (e.g.,upper curve), a second curve 202 (e.g., lower curve), and a generallyvertically extending portion 204 extending between the curves 200, 202.The scraper 114 includes a trailing edge 208. In certain embodiments,the generally vertically extending portion 204 overlaps and/or isaligned with the trailing edge 208 of the scraper 114 along the lateralaxis 22, as best shown in FIG. 3D. In some embodiments, the generallyvertically extending portion 204 may overlap and/or be aligned with thetrailing edge 208 along an entire length of the generally verticallyextending portion 204 (i.e., the entire length between curves 200, 202).In some embodiments, the generally vertically extending portion 204 mayoverlap and/or be aligned with the trailing edge 208 along greater thanor approximately 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 95 percent of the entire lengthof the generally vertically extending portion 204.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B illustrate a structure that is configured toestablish and maintain the desired alignment between the scraper 114 andthe knife 118 discussed above. The spacer element 132 may be coupled tothe frame 112 and the knife 118, and may be dimensioned to provide adesired alignment between the frame 112 and the knife 118. Since thescraper 114 is also mounted to the frame 112, the spacer element 132also establishes the alignment between scraper 114 and knife 118discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3A-D.

In certain embodiments, a position of the scraper 114 relative to theframe 112 and/or the disc 110 along the vertical axis 24 may beadjusted. Such a configuration may advantageously maintain a desiredvertical position of the scraper 114 relative to the disc 110 (e.g., aportion of the disc 110 extends vertically below the scraper 114), whichin turn causes the disc 110 to continue to cut the soil to form thefirst trench and blocks or prevents the scraper 114 from directlycutting the soil to form the first trench. Such a configuration may alsoadvantageously enable adjustment of the position of the scraper 114 as adiameter of the disc 110 decreases over time due to normal wear. Asshown in FIGS. 2B and 3C, for example, the scraper 114 may be coupled tothe mount 116 at a first position (e.g., lower position along thevertical axis 24 and/or rearward position along the axial axis 22) viafasteners 119 (e.g., bolts) extending through first mount holes 450. Thescraper 114 may be coupled to the mount 116 at a second position (e.g.,higher position along the vertical axis 24 and/or forward position alongthe axial axis 22) via the fasteners 119 extending through mount holes452. Although the illustrated scraper 114 is configured to move to twodifferent positions, it should be understood that any suitable number(e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more) of mount holes may be provided. Incertain embodiments, the knife 118 may be moved prior to or duringmovement of the scraper 114. For example, the knife 118 may be movedalong the axial axis 22 and/or along the vertical axis 24 by adjustingthe relative location of a fastener 458 (e.g., bolt) within a hole 454.In certain embodiments, the knife 118 may include grooves 456 that areconfigured to mate with corresponding grooves of the spacer 132. Thegrooves 456 enable movement of the knife 118 along the axial axis 22relative to the spacer 132, the frame 112, and/or the scraper 114. Incertain embodiments, the grooves 456 may enable such movement, whilesupporting or maintaining the knife 118 in a particular verticalposition. Thus, the disclosed embodiments may enable the scraper 114 andthe knife 118 to be moved relative to the disc 110, the frame 112,and/or to one another, thereby enabling the scraper 114 and the knife118 to maintain the alignment and/or positions disclosed herein.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate an example of a knife 302 havingerosion-resistant sections 304A-D (e.g., erosion-resistant strips orcoating formed of carbide or other suitable material) along a cuttingedge 305. The sections 304A-D may provide additional structural support,and may extend the lifetime of the knife 302. In some implementations,the sections 304A-D may also improve the capacity of the knife 302 tocreate the secondary furrow. In certain embodiments, a cavity 307 may beconfigured to receive or may include an additional wear resistantmaterial. For example, an erosion-resistant material, such as carbide,may be placed within the cavity 307, thereby protecting the bottomsurface of the knife 302 and/or a portion (e.g., a corner) of the outlet122 of the secondary chute 121. In some embodiments, the cavity 307 mayextend laterally and/or axially through a portion of the knife 118 thatis positioned axially between the cutting edge 305 (e.g., sections304A-D of the cutting edge 305) and the outlet 122 of the secondarychute 121.

FIGS. 6A-D illustrate an example of a knife 402 with an overlapping lip404. As discussed above, alignment of the knife 402 and the scraper 114may be helpful in reducing an undesired accumulation of soil in thedisc-opener implement 100. The overlapping lip 404 facilitates suchalignment by providing a structure that may block or limit relativemovement (e.g., along the lateral axis 22) between the scraper 114 andthe knife 402. For example, as the disc-opener implement 100 is draggedthrough a field, the scraper 114 may be driven laterally via contactwith the soil or other debris. The overlapping lip 404 provides abracing structure (e.g., blocking structure) for the scraper 114 toblock lateral movement of the scraper 114. A comparison between the sideview in FIG. 6C and the exploded side view in FIG. 7 illustrates theregion of the overlapping lip 404 that may come in contact with thescraper 114 during operation of the implement to block the relativemovement between the scraper 114 and the knife 402. As shown, theoverlapping lip 404 is formed along a leading edge 410 of the knife 402and extends beyond (e.g., overlaps) a trailing edge 412 of the scraperalong the axial axis 20.

FIG. 8 provides a schematic diagram of a surface 584 of a field and atrench 586 that may be formed by the disc 110 of the disc-openerimplements 110 disclosed herein, in accordance with an embodiment. Thediagram also illustrates the furrow 588 that may be formed the knife,such as the knife 118, 302, or 402.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it should beunderstood that any of the features illustrated and described hereinwith respect to FIGS. 1-8 may be combined in any suitable manner.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An agricultural system, comprising: astructural frame; a plurality of double-shoot disc-opener implements,wherein at least one double-shoot disc-opener implement comprises: adisc configured to form a trench in a surface of a field; a scraperadjacent to the disc, wherein the scraper is configured to deflect soilaway from the disc and comprises a trailing edge; and a knife disposedbehind the scraper, configured to form a furrow next to or into asidewall of the trench, wherein the knife includes an overlapping lipstructure formed in a leading edge of the knife, and the overlapping lipstructure overlaps the scraper along an axial axis of the at least onedouble-shoot disc-opener implement and is configured to block lateralmovement of the scraper; wherein the overlapping lip structure isconfigured to block substantial accumulation of soil between the knifeand the scraper; and wherein the leading edge of the knife extendsbeyond the trailing edge of the scraper along an axial axis of the atleast one disc-opener implement.
 2. The agricultural system of claim 1,wherein the at least one disc-opener implement comprises a first productchute configured to place a first product in the trench.
 3. Theagricultural system of claim 2, wherein the at least one disc-openerimplement comprises a second product chute configured to place a secondproduct in the furrow.
 4. The agricultural system of claim 1, whereinthe knife comprises carbide sections in a cutting edge.
 5. Theagricultural system of claim 1, wherein the knife is detachable.
 6. Anagricultural system comprising: a structural frame; and at least onedisc-opener implement, comprising: a disc configured to form a trench ina surface of a field; a scraper adjacent to the disc and comprising atrailing edge; and a knife disposed behind the scraper and comprising aleading edge that is vertically positioned to form a furrow next to orinto a sidewall of the trench, wherein a portion of the leading edge isaligned with the trailing edge of the scraper along a lateral axis ofthe at least one disc-opener implement; and wherein the at least onedisc-opener implement comprises an overlapping lip structure formed inthe leading edge of the knife and the overlapping lip structure contactsthe scraper and extends beyond the trailing edge of the scraper along anaxial axis of the at least one disc-opener implement.
 7. Theagricultural system of claim 6, wherein the at least one disc-openerimplement comprises a spacer configured to support the knife at a fixedposition relative to the disc.
 8. The agricultural system of claim 7,wherein the fixed position is configured to block formation ofsubstantial soil accumulation in a region between the knife and thescraper.
 9. The agricultural system of claim 6, wherein the at least onedisc-opener implement comprises: a first product chute configured toplace a first product in the trench; and a second product chuteconfigured to place a second product in the furrow.